China and former Soviet Union countries have the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to discuss mutual security issues, while Europe and the US have the high-profile Munich Security Conference (MSC) in Germany to discuss global security issues. This week Indonesia will have its own defense forum in Jakarta to discuss regional security.

Indonesia will host the first-ever Jakarta International Defense Dialogue (JIDD) from Wednesday (23/3) to Friday (25/3).

“The Jakarta International Defense Dialogue (JIDD) will be the region’s principal security coordination mechanism on a global scale,” the organizers, defense minister and the Indonesian Defense University, announced on their website www.jidd.org.

Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro said recently that the main aim of the JIDD was to bring together defense officials, experts, academics and policymakers from Asia Pacific, Europe and Africa to discuss regional security architecture,

True to its name the JIDD has attracted more than 500 participants, including Timor Leste Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao, defense ministers as well as defense chiefs, from more than 40 countries across the globe.

The three-day dialogue will be inaugurated by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Wednesday (23/3).

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has stated that according to US News and World Report survey results, Indonesia was in the second place among the world`s two most attractive countries for investment destination.

President Joko Widodo expressed congratulations to mothers and women on the occasion of the International Women`s Day in front of the recipients of Smart Indonesia Card, Hope Family Program, and Social Rice (Rastra) assistance.

Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko received the visit of the American ambassador to Indonesia, Joseph R Donovan Jr, at his office in Jakarta on Monday, to discuss a number of bilateral cooperation, including joint military training.

The Kazakh government is interested to learn the Indonesian National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT)′s soft approaches to deal with terrorism, BNPT Chief Commissioner General Police Suhardi Alius said in a press statement released on Sunday.